Familiarity:
I've put it through the wringer

I have had these shoes for the last 2 winters and they have never failed to perform. The binding is super stable and will stay tight all day. Once I tighten them down, I never have to re-tighten. You cant say that about many of the other snow shoes. The binding is very user friendly and only requires you to tighten 2 straps. When I go with friends I am always the first one with my snow shoes on and the the first one with them off once we get back to the parking lot. The Heel Lift is amazing. It makes going up the steep and deep stuff much easier. If you do much extended climbing, the heel lift is a must, regardless of what shoe you get. Another feature I love about these shoes is how tough they are. They do weigh a little more than some of the competitors shoes, but they are bomber. Lastly, the way the shoe pivots is great. It simply rotates rather than throw snow up the back of your pants and cloths. I have taken these shoes up ridges waist deep in snow as well as up rivers that have frozen as they run down the canyon. Overall a super bomber shoe. Overall, my favorite. If you get these, you will not be disappointed.